He didn’t push. But his eyes lingered on me for a moment longer, warm and steady.
Then his lips quirked up into a rare smile, his lips parting as the whole world disappeared around us.
My pulse kicked up, and I was suddenlyveryaware of how close he was standing, and more importantly, how the other women had gone quiet, watching us with knowing smiles.
Then he nodded once and turned to head back to the front of the store.
The second he was gone, everyone started talking at once.
“Where didhecome from?” Courtney demanded.
“Are you two dating?” Pearl leaned forward eagerly.
“Did you see the way he looked at her?” Gwen grabbed my arm. “Avery, that man isinterested.”
“He’s not interested,” I protested weakly. “He’s just being friendly.”
“Honey, that wasnota friendly look.” Becky snorted. “That was anI-want-to-take-you-home-and-do-unspeakable-things-to-youface. I know that look. You’re going to be booking a date at my place soon.”
Becky ran the local wedding chapel, and she was always working to drum up business.
I flushed hot pink as I glanced toward the doorway, my heart still racing.
Flint had been setting me on fire for days. But I hadn’t known if it was all in my head or not. My friends had just given me confirmation that it wasn’t just me.
Flint was being a big old flirt in his gruff, quiet way.
Then I noticed Annie sitting quietly in her chair, her expression carefully neutral. She looked let down.
And despite all my fears and walls, I felt a tiny spark of hope flicker to life inside me.
Had Flint just chosen me overher? It was almost impossible to imagine.
Chapter 8
Flint
The last customer left at six, and I locked the door behind them with a satisfying click. I was only minutes away from being alone with Avery… something I’d spent all day waiting for.
“Early close for inventory,” I announced to Shelly, who was straightening the children’s section. “You can head out.”
Avery appeared from behind a shelf, her lavender cardigan slightly rumpled from a long day.
Shelly asked, “Are you sure? I don’t mind staying.”
“Go on.” I waved her toward the door. “We’ve got this.”
The bell chimed as she left, and then it was just the two of us.
The change in mood hit me immediately.
For days now, Bookish had been buzzing with customers and new energy.
The tourist traffic had picked up, Shelly was learning the ropes, and there was always someone around needing something. I’d barely had a moment alone with Avery since that first day when I arrived.
I missed it. The intimacy of working side by side without an audience. We both did best in quiet, even if we were surrounded by a busy bookstore.
“So,” Avery said, pulling a clipboard from behind the counter, “inventory.”
